For Immediate Release:

Contact: David Varner, Media & Marketing Specialist
717-731-3541 | dwvarner@pfb.com

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) brought together Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, U.S. House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, and State Representative Justin Fleming on Saturday to recap the 107th PA Farm Show and the future of agriculture in Pennsylvania.

The event centered around PFB’s mission to continue efforts to educate consumers about agriculture, Farm Bureau’s commitment to working with state and federal legislators and the 2023 Farm Bill, among other topics.

Chris Hoffman, President of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau discussed some of his goals moving forward as the new face of PFB.

“One of our primary goals at Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is to educate the public about agriculture. We recognize the significance of our farmers, ranchers, and foresters’ and we need to pass that on to the consumers.” Hoffman said, as PFB looks to bring more awareness to what farmers go through daily and what it takes to put meals on tables.

Russell Redding was honored to aid in the continuation of the Farm Show and like many, he understands the importance and impact the Farm show has.

“We could not do what we do without the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. I’m always proud to stand with them,” Redding said. The secretary knows the impact Farm Bureau has on its members when representing them at the local, state, and federal level.

Newly appointed U.S. House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson talked about the importance of people reconnecting with agriculture.

“Every one of the (Farm Show attendees) are reconnecting with agriculture. If you look around, you would probably guess most of the people coming in off the street are not coming from the farm,” Thompson said. Thompson talked about how the Farm Show helps non-agriculturists engage in the many professions there are to offer.

State Representative Justin Fleming joined the press conference to share his background and stance on how important agriculture is.

“We ended up growing our own food for a time, in the community garden right up here on Emerton Avenue,” Fleming stated. The congressman wants to bridge the gap between urban communities and agriculture since he knew the importance it held for him growing up.

Tommy Nagle, Vice President of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau served as the host of the event. Nagle is from Patton, in Cambria County, where he raises beef cattle and grows crops on his family farm.

“We are proud to represent farms and ranches of all different sizes and commodities,” said Nagle, to highlight Pennsylvania’s diversity in agriculture.

All who attended the press conference spoke on the importance of working together to advance agriculture at the state and federal level. There are many avenues that agriculture can do down, but the unifying statement was awareness and education.

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Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization, representing farms of every size and commodity across Pennsylvania.